This was stated in a press release given to journalists on Saturday and signed by Lai Mohammed, the minister of information and culture.

Mohammed disclosed that on Friday, April 28, 2023, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Buhari met with some members of the Federal Executive Council and Nasir Isa-Kwarra and his team, the chairman of the National Population Commission.

He said: “In arriving at the decision to postpone the census.

“The meeting reiterated the critical need for the conduct of a Population and Housing Census, 17 years after the last census, to collect up-to-date data that will drive the developmental goals of the country and improve the living standard of the Nigerian people.”

According to the Minister, Buhari said that appreciable progress had been made in the preparation for and implementation of the now postponed census.

He added that the President commended the methodology being put in place by the NPC to conduct accurate and reliable census.

The statement said: “The President noted that with the completion of the Enumeration Area Demarcation of the country, conduct of first and second pre-tests, the recruitment and training of ad hoc workers, procurement of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and ICT infrastructures, appreciable progress has been made in the implementation of the 2023 Population and Housing Census.

“He also commended the methodology being put in place by the Commission to conduct accurate and reliable Census, especially the massive deployment of technology that is capable of delivering world class Census and laying a sustainable basis for future censuses.

“The President further directed the Commission to continue with preparations for the conduct of the 2023 Population and Housing Census in order to sustain the gains already recorded and provide the basis for the incoming administration to consolidate these achievements.

“The meeting was attended by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami; the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed; the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Mr Clem Agba and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha.”